Code of the District of Columbia

§ 22–1705. Gambling premises; definition; prohibition against maintaining; forfeiture; liens; deposit of moneys in Treasury; penalty; subsequent offenses.

(a) Any house, building, vessel, shed, booth, shelter, vehicle, enclosure, room, lot, or other premises in the District of Columbia, used or to be used in violating the provisions of § 22-1701 or § 22-1704, shall be deemed “gambling premises” for the purpose of this section.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person in the District of Columbia knowingly, as owner, lessee, agent, employee, operator, occupant, or otherwise, to maintain, or aid, or permit the maintaining of any gambling premises.

(c) All moneys, vehicles, furnishings, fixtures, equipment, stock (including, without limitation, furnishings and fixtures adaptable to nongambling uses, and equipment and stock for printing, recording, computing, transporting, safekeeping, or communication), or other things of value used or to be used in:

(1) Carrying on or conducting any lottery, or the game or device commonly known as a policy lottery or policy, contrary to the provisions of §  22-1701;

(2) Setting up or keeping any gaming table, bank, or device contrary to the provisions of §  22-1704; or

(3) Maintaining any gambling premises shall be subject to forfeiture consistent with the standards and procedures set forth in D.C. Law 20-278.

(d) Whoever violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than 180 days or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both, unless the violation occurs after the person has been convicted of a violation of this section, in which case the person may be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.